1 ¶ Téngannos los hombres por ministros del Cristo, y dispensadores de los misterios de Dios.

Think of us as servants who are owned by Christ. It is our job to share the secrets of God.

2 S e requiere sin embargo en los dispensadores, que cada uno sea hallado fiel.

A servant must be faithful to his owner. This is expected of him.

3 Y o en muy poco tengo el ser juzgado de vosotros, o de juicio humano; y ni aun yo me juzgo.

It is not the most important thing to me what you or any other people think of me. Even what I think of myself does not mean much.

4 P orque aunque de nada tengo mala conciencia, no por eso soy justificado; mas el que me juzga, es el Señor.

As for me, my heart tells me I am not guilty of anything. But that does not prove I am free from guilt. It is the Lord Who looks into my life and says what is wrong.

5 A sí que, no juzguéis nada antes de tiempo, hasta que venga el Señor, el cual también aclarará lo oculto de las tinieblas, y manifestará los intentos de los corazones; y entonces cada uno tendrá de Dios la alabanza.

Do not be quick to say who is right or wrong. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring into the light the things that are hidden in men’s hearts. He will show why men have done these things. Every man will receive from God the thanks he should have.

6 P ero esto, hermanos, he pasado por ejemplo en mí y en Apolos, por amor de vosotros; para que en nosotros no aprendáis más allá de lo que está escrito, no sea que por causa de uno, os envanezcáis unos contra otros.

Christian brothers, I have used Apollos and myself to show you what I am talking about. This is to help you so you will not think more of men than what God’s Word will allow. Never think more of one of God’s servants than another.

7 ¶ Porque ¿quién te hace juzgar? ¿O qué tienes que no hayas recibido? Y si lo recibiste, ¿de qué te glorías como si no lo hubieras recibido?

Who made you better than your brother? Or what do you have that has not been given to you? If God has given you everything, why do you have pride? Why do you act as if He did not give it to you?

8 Y a estáis saciados, ya estáis ricos, sin nosotros reináis ya; y bien que reinéis, para que nosotros reinemos también juntamente con vosotros.

You are full. You are rich. You live like kings and we do not. I wish you were kings and we could be leaders with you.

9 P orque a lo que pienso, Dios nos ha mostrado a nosotros, los apóstoles, como los postreros, como a sentenciados a muerte; porque somos hechos espectáculo al mundo, y a los ángeles, y a los hombres.

I think that God has made a show of us missionaries. We are the last and the least among men. We are like men waiting to be put to death. The whole world, men and angels alike, are watching us.

10 N osotros locos por amor del Cristo, y vosotros prudentes en el Cristo; nosotros flacos, y vosotros fuertes; vosotros nobles, y nosotros viles.

We are thought of as fools because of Christ. But you are thought of as wise Christians! We are weak. You are strong. People respect you. They have no respect for us.

11 H asta esta hora hambrientos, y tenemos sed, y estamos mal vestidos, y somos heridos de golpes, y andamos vagabundos;

To this hour we are hungry and thirsty, and our clothes are worn out. People hurt us. We have no homes.

12 y trabajamos, obrando con nuestras manos; nos maldicen, y bendecimos; padecemos persecución, y sufrimos;

We work with our hands to make a living. We speak kind words to those who speak against us. When people hurt us, we say nothing.

13 s omos blasfemados, y rogamos; hemos venido a ser como la basura de este mundo, inmundicias de todos hasta ahora.

When people say bad things about us, we answer with kind words. People think of us as dirt that is worth nothing and as the worst thing on earth to this day. Follow Paul’s Way of Life

14 ¶ No escribo esto para avergonzaros; sino para amonestaros como a mis hijos amados.

I do not write these things to shame you. I am doing this to help you know what you should do. You are my much-loved children.

15 P orque aunque tengáis diez mil ayos en Cristo, no tendréis muchos padres; que en Cristo Jesús yo os engendré por el Evangelio.

You may have 10, 000 Christian teachers. But remember, I am the only father you have. You became Christians when I preached the Good News to you.

16 P or tanto, os ruego que me imitéis.

So I ask you with all my heart to follow the way I live.

17 ¶ Por lo cual os he enviado a Timoteo, que es mi hijo amado y fiel en el Señor, el cual os amonestará de cuáles sean mis caminos en Cristo, de la manera que enseño en todas partes en todas las Iglesias.

For this reason I have sent Timothy to you. He is my much-loved child and a faithful Christian. He will tell you how I act as a Christian. This is the kind of life I teach in the churches wherever I go.

18 M as algunos están envanecidos, como si nunca hubiera yo de ir a vosotros.

Some of you are full of pride. You think that I am not coming to visit you.

19 P ero iré presto a vosotros, si el Señor quisiere; y conoceré, no las palabras de los que andan envanecidos, sino la virtud.

If the Lord wants me to, I will come soon. I will find out when I come if these proud people have God’s power, or if they just use a lot of big words.

20 P orque el Reino de Dios no consiste en palabras, sino en virtud.

The holy nation of God is not made up of words. It is made up of power.

21 ¿ Qué queréis? ¿Iré a vosotros con vara, o con caridad y espíritu de mansedumbre?

What do you want? Do you want me to come with a stick to whip you? Or do you want me to come with love and a gentle spirit?